Today was such a strange day...

Riu heaved a sigh, gingerly stepping onto the train and sinking into a nearby seat. The car was surprisingly empty, a welcome contrast to the usual sardine-packed chaos. She relaxed, relishing the rare space to breathe freely. Her mind, however, was a whirlwind, as if she had just been swept up in a typhoon that tore through her mundane existence before vanishing without a trace.

Kiyome Kazue. Though the impression she had of him was that he was a total dunce, she felt strangely warm when recalling his smile. How easily he was able to talk with her, without trying to butter her up or getting flustered from nervousness like others did. How he laughed at her prickly side, without becoming intimidated.

That guy probably had a few screws loose—or maybe no screws at all. Either way, she found herself wondering when they'd meet again. Would he smile and laugh like that in front of her once more?

...Wait, why am I even thinking about him?!

Honestly... One person speaks to me, and I become this expectant... I'm so pathetic.

In an attempt to shake off her thoughts, Riu grabbed her phone and opened her usual reading app, Wanpad. It was a familiar routine: scrolling through her digital library to check if her favourite authors had released new chapters. Her eyes lit up when she spotted a certain story and saw the words "1 unread chapter" beneath it, a smile spreading across her face. It was one of the stories she loved most.

"The Goodness of Your Black Heart," also known as "Goodness Heart" or simply "GYBH," was an immensely popular romance novel series penned by an author who went by the name Leicor. For nearly a year, she had been an ardent follower of their work, captivated by the meaningful and engaging narrative. Love, sacrifice, joy, sadness—every element was masterfully crafted, moving her to tears on numerous occasions.

Riu immediately opened the new chapter, eager to resolve the previous update's cliffhanger. As she immersed herself in the story, time flew by. Before she knew it, the train had already arrived at her stop, interrupting her reading.

I'm already here?! I guess I'll continue after dinner...

She stepped out of the station and made her way home, the familiar route unfolding before her. Every day, the same sights greeted her: a quaint ramen shop with savoury aromas drifting through the air, a flower store changing its display with the seasons, a bike rack either overflowing with bicycles or completely deserted.

She passed the long road of large, opulent homes with their gleaming cars parked at the edges. At the end of her walk stood the gates of a grand mansion, its expansive front yard resembling a park.

The house, with its pristine shell-gray walls and large glass windows reflecting the lamplight, looked almost too perfect. It was so picturesque it seemed like a model home, where you'd expect to find dolls tucked away inside, living out a perfectly crafted family scene.

Riu glanced at the intercom by the gate, where the name "Furuse" was embossed on the nameplate. Her thoughts momentarily blanked as she retrieved her keys with practiced ease, unlocking the large gate and walking up to the front door. As she stepped inside, the entryway greeted her with its familiar emptiness and chill.

"I'm home..." she called out, but her voice echoed into the empty house. She looked around at the pristine white walls and monochromatic furniture, all untouched and immaculate. With a sigh, Riu closed and locked the door, kicked off her shoes, and headed upstairs to her bedroom.

Evenings like this were routine for her. Her parents were seldom home due to their demanding schedules, and her brother, now a working adult, was rarely around. Then again, she preferred their absence over their presence.

There was a time Riu used to detest the solitude in this sprawling house, but now it had become the norm, to the point where their occasional presence felt out of place.

That and...

They haven't been such a wonderful family for me to miss them.

Every time she passed through the entryway, fragments of painful memories surged back. Her cheek stinging, her wrist throbbing, the flicker of something sharp against her coat. The tightening in her chest as she collapsed, unable to breathe.

Riu let out a shaky sigh, halting midway up the stairs. She pressed her hand to her forehead and closed her eyes, trying to steady the tremors of her breath.

Don't think about it. Don't think about it. Don't think about it.

Chanting this over and over in her mind, she continued upwards and at last, she reached her bedroom. Once she was inside, the colourful hues of scenic posters and paintings and decorations filled her vision. Her collections and her happiness melted away the unease. Now that her body was relaxed, she could feel the fatigue catching up with her.

"I'm so tired... I'll shower and then continue Goodness Heart."

___________________________

Bzzzt. Bzzzt. Bzzzt.

A pair of inky-black eyes fluttered open, weighed down by exhaustion. Riu stirred from her slumber, her phone vibrating at her side while streams of sunlight filtered through the gaps in her curtains.

For a moment, her mind was blank, her body chilled and covered in goosebumps. Summoning the strength to sit up, Riu reached for the phone beside her pillow and turned off the alarm. As she unlocked the screen, she noticed that the story she had been reading earlier was still open.

Oh... I must have passed out without realising...

Riu sighed softly but quickly pulled herself out of bed. She would have liked to linger a bit longer, but it was time to get ready for school.

After washing up, dressing, and gathering her things, Riu opened her bedroom door and stepped into the hallway. As she made her way down the stairs and into the kitchen, she was surprised to find a familiar figure already seated at the breakfast isle.

Almond-shaped eyes, flat and grey, glanced up with barely a hint of acknowledgment. A handsome man in his mid-twenties sipped an espresso with practiced ease. His neat black hair was combed back, and a pair of glasses rested on the bridge of his nose. He was dressed in a crisp shirt tucked into sleek black trousers.

This was Furuse Akio, Riu's older brother by nine years, who was studying to become a doctor and preparing to inherit the Furuse Hospital. As Riu silently moved towards the fridge to find something to eat, Akio continued to sip his coffee with a refined air. Neither of them exchanged a word.

She grabbed some fruit sandwiches wrapped in foil—likely left by the housekeeper—and settled at the far end of the breakfast island, deliberately distant from her brother. As she ate in silence, the minutes passed quietly.

Ah, the food tastes terrible... I sat away from him, too...

Once finished, Riu rinsed her plate and left it in the sink. Without a word, she exited the room, leaving Akio alone with his coffee.

As usual, Riu slipped on her shoes, left the house, walked to the station, boarded the train, and made her way to school. The routine felt automatic, each step blending into the next. The train ride was a bustling yet solitary journey, punctuated by the hum of the tracks and the occasional glance at her phone.

At school, the familiar faces and voices felt distant, and her day unfolded in its usual, predictable rhythm. The classroom buzzed with exuberance and chatter during break, but Riu sat quietly in her seat, a book in hand. While students gathered in lively groups, animatedly talking and laughing, Riu remained alone, as always.

It wasn't that people couldn't sense her presence. Rather, their admiration from afar seemed to build an invisible barrier around her, making her feel more isolated despite their silent reverence. But that was fine. Riu didn't have any intention of befriending these people, anyway.

"Shun-kun!~ You better not ghost me this holiday, 'kay?" A girl standing close behind chirped with a sickeningly sweet voice. Riu recognised it almost immediately.

Morita Chisaki. She epitomised everything Riu found most irritating. With her bleached blonde hair adorned with gaudy hairpins, a heavy layer of makeup caking her face, and a deliberately loose shirt that exposed her cleavage, Chisaki always sought to be the center of attention. Her hands, adorned with sharp, painted fake nails, only added to her over-the-top persona. Despite her attempt to appear like some sort of cutesy western high school girl, her tall, pudgy figure and exaggerated antics left Riu cringing.

Chisaki was what the Japanese would call a Gyaru. She flitted from one boyfriend to the next, always pursuing new love interests even while in a relationship. This year, her focus was mostly on Kunou Shun, widely regarded as the most attractive guy in their grade. Chisaki spent the entire year openly pining for him, making her intentions clear to everyone and warding off other girls from approaching him.

What made it worse was that both of these students were seat mates in the row behind her. And Junkei Itou, Shun's friend, was seated behind them. So Riu had to painstakingly endure their flirting and frivolous conversations for the entire winter term.

At least it's over soon. I really hope neither of them are in my class next year...

"Haha, ghost you? Did I do that?" Shun chuckled in response to the girl, his usual laid-back demeanor accompanied by a charming smile. "Sorry about that, Chisa. It was probably because Itou here kept coming to me, complaining about how lonely he was being single."

"Wah?! I did not! You were the one going on dates, don't pin that on— mmrph!"

"Yeah, we sure did go on a lot of dates," Shun teased, his hand playfully covering his friend's mouth. "At this rate, maybe I should just become your girlfriend, Itou~"

Chisaki's laughter burst forth, a high-pitched giggle that pierced through the room. "Hahaha! You guys are really so close, aren't you?" she exclaimed, thoroughly enjoying their playful exchange.

Riu resisted the urge to sigh. I'll never get used to this.

Suddenly, the classroom doors flew open with a loud slam, causing every head to turn toward the commotion. A tall student with wild, unkempt red hair strode in, and Riu's eyes widened in bewilderment at the unexpected intrusion.

Kiyome Kazue?!

"Woah! That was so loud!"

"Kazue, you meathead! We know you're all brawn and no brains, but at least be careful with the doors!" One of the nearby classmates yelled in annoyance.

"Ah! Sorry man!" He apologised quickly, clasping his hands together as though in a desperate prayer rather than an apology.

"Tch, show off. He looks skinny but that punk has monster-level strength." Junkei Itou commented, kissing his teeth.

Shun chuckled lightly. "Is someone jealous?"

"You askin' for a fight, dammit?!"

Riu would normally be sitting there, ignoring everyone around her in a situation like this. But right now, she found herself frozen in her seat, her legs trembling as Kazue approached. That same boyishly charming grin from the previous evening reappeared much sooner than she expected.

"Heya!"

He's coming right this way!? He's not here for me, right?!

...Who am I kidding, he'll probably act like he doesn't know me. He's only here because this is the class his friends are in.

After all, their previous encounter had been nothing more than a fluke—just a coincidence. She had caught him in a vulnerable moment and agreed to keep it secret. It was clear he would do the same, and they'd go back to being strangers at school.

That was how things were supposed to be.

Yet... for some reason... it felt as if Kazue's gaze wasn't fixed on the people behind her, but was aimed squarely at Riu.

"I found you! So you're in the same class as Shun and Itou, huh? You're so lucky!"

...Oh God...

The blood drained from Riu's face as every student in the classroom turned their attention to Kazue, their expressions a mix of confusion and curiosity.

How could I have forgotten...?

This guy...

Before anyone could react, Kazue grabbed a vacant chair from another desk, turned it to face Riu's, and plopped down with a casual ease. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, and his arms rested comfortably on the edge of her desk. With a broad, disarming smile, he leaned in.

"Hey, Futake. How about lunch together later?"

...This guy is a total idiot.